Detroit, MI — Food Truck permit
Detroit is unusual for Michigan: you don't license a food truck through the state (MDARD) at all — the Detroit Health Department is a delegated local health authority that issues the food license directly, and its fee already bundles the state's portion. A hot truck's annual Detroit Health license is $498 and the one-time plan review is $743 (both verified on the city's Jan 2026 fee schedule). The city Business License + Vendor Plate from BSEED is the capstone: it's only issued after Health, Fire, and Treasury have each cleared you.
Inside Detroit you license a food truck through the Detroit Health Department (a delegated local authority), not MDARD — the DHD fee already includes the state's portion. The $498/yr hot-truck license and $743 plan review are verified against the city's Jan 1, 2026 fee schedule; the BSEED Business License and Fire Department permit fees vary and aren't on that schedule, so confirm them before you budget.
The two verified permit costs are the $498/yr Detroit Health license and the one-time $743 plan review. The city Business License fee and Fire Department permit fee vary. Commissary access and liability insurance (~$2,000–$4,000/yr) drive the spread. Excludes the truck build.
What a Detroit food truck permit actually involves
The thing that trips up most first-timers is advice written for the rest of Michigan. Statewide, food trucks license through MDARD (the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development). Detroit is different: the Detroit Health Department (DHD) is a delegated local health authority, so inside the city you license the truck through DHD — not MDARD — and the DHD license fee already includes the State of Michigan portion. You get the State of Michigan mobile-food decal through the Detroit Health Department, in one transaction, rather than paying the state and the city separately.
The permits, in the order you actually need them
Detroit stacks the process so the City Business License + Vendor Plate (issued by BSEED — Buildings, Safety Engineering & Environmental Department) comes last. BSEED won't issue it until three other offices have signed off:
- Detroit Health Department — a Mobile Food Establishment (MFE) license after a plan review of the built-out truck. A hot truck (the "Mobile Food Preparation Unit" category) is $498/year; the one-time plan review is $743. Both figures are verified against the DHD fee schedule effective January 1, 2026.
- Detroit Fire Department, Fire Marshal Division — every enclosed truck with a cooking element, propane, or a generator needs a fire inspection/permit (313-596-3932).
- Treasury Department — an income-tax clearance.
- BSEED — submit the application and pay the Business License fee; you receive the City of Detroit Vendor Plate that must be displayed on the truck's exterior.
The truck must carry the current-year State of Michigan Mobile Food / STFU decal (license year May 1 – April 30) and the BSEED Vendor Plate. The Business License and plate renew on a 2-year cycle (expiring May 31).
Where you can actually park
Detroit's modernized food-truck ordinance opened designated Central Business District and Cultural Center / Midtown vending zones plus commercial corridors across the city — but it also created 14 restricted corridors where trucks are banned, and vending is prohibited on any residential street. You may only vend where on-street parking is allowed, and if the space is metered you pay the meter. Trucks must stay 200 ft from a business selling the same goods (without written consent), 200 ft from any K-12 school, and 200 ft from a sports arena/stadium without consent. No vending 11 PM–5 AM, and you must be gone by midnight.
What it costs and how long it takes
Plan on 2–4 months end to end — plan review, the build, and three separate clearances before BSEED issues the plate. The two big verified numbers are the $498 DHD license and the $743 plan review; the city Business License fee and the Fire Department permit fee vary and aren't published on a single schedule. The cost drivers beyond permits are the commissary (mandatory — every truck must return to an approved commissary within 24 hours) and liability insurance (commonly $2,000–$4,000/year).
Licenses
| License | Who needs it | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
Detroit Health Department — Mobile Food Establishment license (hot truck) | Every food truck preparing or cooking food in the City of Detroit. Detroit is a delegated local health authority, so this DHD license — not an MDARD license — is what you hold. | $498 $498/year for a Mobile Food Preparation Unit (a truck that cooks/preps on board). Verified on the Detroit Health Department Food Service License Fee Schedule effective Jan 1, 2026. The fee already includes the State of Michigan mobile-food fee, so there's no separate MDARD payment inside Detroit. Package/pushcart categories are $278. | 1 year (May 1 – April 30) |
Detroit Health Department — Mobile/TFU plan review | Every new, remodeled, or altered mobile unit before it may begin operating. | $743 $743 one-time for a Mobile/TFU Preparation Unit plan review (includes the approval report, one on-site consultation, and a pre-opening inspection). Verified on the Jan 1, 2026 DHD fee schedule. A previously-Detroit-licensed truck making changes pays $193; pre-packaged units/pushcarts pay $495. Payable by business check, money order, cashier's check, or Visa/MC/Discover — no personal checks or cash. | One-time (per build/remodel) |
City of Detroit Business License + Vendor Plate (BSEED) | Every food truck vending in the City of Detroit. Apply through BSEED's eLAPS online system. | Varies Varies — the BSEED Mobile Food Establishment business-license fee isn't published on the Health Department's schedule; confirm with the Business License Center (313-224-3179). Issued only after Health, Fire, and Treasury clearances are in hand. The Vendor Plate must be displayed on the truck; the license/plate renews every 2 years (expiring May 31). | 2 years (expires May 31) |
Detroit Fire Department — food truck permit / inspection | Any enclosed cooking truck; this Fire clearance is a prerequisite for the BSEED Business License. | Varies Varies — required for every enclosed truck with a cooking element, propane tank(s), or a generator. Scheduled through the Fire Marshal Division (313-596-3932); the inspection covers suppression systems, Class K + ABC extinguishers, and exhaust venting. Confirm the current fee with the Fire Department. | Annual |
Transitory Food Unit (TFU) license — event/temporary trucks | Operators working temporary/event setups rather than daily street vending. | $318 $318 for a TFU (a truck operating at temporary events rather than as a full commissary-returning mobile unit), plus a $90 paid operational inspection. Verified on the Jan 1, 2026 DHD schedule. Renewing a TFU requires two paid operational inspections. | 1 year |
Requirements
- Signed commissary verification form
Every mobile unit must return to a licensed commissary at least once every 24 hours for servicing, restocking, and waste disposal. A commissary verification form approved by the Detroit Health Department must be kept in the truck at all times. See the commissary-letter guide for a template.
Cost: Commissary access varies (secondary sources cite ~$200–$500/yr on the low end for shared access)
- Detroit Health Department plan review + pre-opening inspection
Submit plans/menu and pass a plan review before operating. The $743 Mobile/TFU plan-review fee includes the approval report, one on-site consultation, and the pre-opening inspection. Build only to the approved plan.
- Fire Marshal inspection (enclosed cooking trucks)
Enclosed trucks with cooking equipment, propane, or a generator must pass a Detroit Fire Department Fire Marshal inspection covering suppression systems, Class K and ABC extinguishers, and exhaust vents before BSEED will license the business.
- Treasury income-tax clearance
BSEED requires a clearance from the City of Detroit Treasury Department confirming the business is current on income tax before the Business License is issued.
- Exterior identification + current decals
The truck's exterior must show the business name and address in 3-inch-high letters, the current-year State of Michigan Mobile Food / STFU decal (issued via the Detroit Health Department), and the City of Detroit Vendor Plate.
- General liability insurance
Commercial liability coverage is expected for licensing; operators commonly budget $2,000–$4,000/year in premiums. Carry proof on the truck.
Realistic timeline
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Business + commissary setup | Week 1–3 | Form the entity, get an EIN, line up an approved commissary and get the verification form signed, and get liability insurance. Stall: Trying to apply for the health license without a documented commissary agreement in hand. |
| Detroit Health plan review + license | Week 2–8 | Submit plans/menu to the Detroit Health Department (100 Mack Ave, Ste 311), pay the $743 plan review, build to the approved plan, and pass the pre-opening inspection to get the $498 Mobile Food Establishment license and state decal. Stall: Assuming you need a separate MDARD license — inside Detroit the DHD license already covers the state portion. |
| Fire + Treasury clearances | Week 6–10 | Schedule the Fire Marshal inspection (313-596-3932) for suppression, extinguishers, and venting, and obtain the Treasury income-tax clearance. Both are prerequisites for BSEED. Stall: Booking the fire inspection before the truck's suppression system and extinguishers are installed and current. |
| BSEED Business License + Vendor Plate | Week 8–14 | With Health, Fire, and Treasury clearances in hand, apply through BSEED's eLAPS system, pay the business-license fee, and receive the City of Detroit Vendor Plate. Renews every 2 years (May 31). |
Common rejection / stall reasons
- Following MDARD guidance instead of licensing through the Detroit Health Department
Detroit is a delegated local health authority. Inside the city you license the truck through the Detroit Health Department — its fee already includes the state's portion and you get the state decal through DHD. Trying to license separately through MDARD is the most common wasted step.
- Applying to BSEED before the other clearances are done
The City Business License + Vendor Plate is the capstone: BSEED won't issue it until the Health Department, Fire Department, and Treasury have each cleared you. Filing out of order stalls everything.
- Parking on a residential street or in a restricted corridor
The ordinance opened designated Central Business District and Cultural Center zones plus commercial corridors, but bans vending on any residential street and in 14 restricted corridors. You may only vend where on-street parking is allowed — and if it's metered, you pay the meter.
- Missing the 24-hour commissary return / verification form
Every mobile unit must return to an approved commissary at least once every 24 hours, and the DHD-approved commissary verification form must be in the truck at all times. No documented commissary means no license.
- Skipping the fire inspection on a cooking truck
Any enclosed truck with a cooking element, propane, or a generator must pass a Fire Marshal inspection (suppression, Class K + ABC extinguishers, exhaust). It's a hard prerequisite for the BSEED license, not an optional step.
Official sources
- Detroit Health Dept — Mobile Food Establishments & STFUs
- Detroit Health Dept — Food Safety Licensing
- Detroit Health Dept — Food Service License Fee Schedule (Jan 2026)
- BSEED — Food Truck & Street Vendors
- City of Detroit — How to Start a Mobile Food Business in Detroit
- MDARD — How to Apply for a Food Service License
Contacts
- Detroit Health Department — Food Safety
- 313-876-0135 · 100 Mack Ave, Ste 311, Detroit, MI 48201
- BSEED Business License Center
- 313-224-3179
- Detroit Fire Department — Fire Marshal Division
- 313-596-3932
FAQ
- Do I need an MDARD license to run a food truck in Detroit?
- No — not separately. Michigan delegates food licensing to local health departments, and the Detroit Health Department is the licensing authority inside the city. You get the state's Mobile Food decal through the Detroit Health Department, and its license fee already includes the State of Michigan portion. Most statewide Michigan guides tell you to license through MDARD; inside Detroit that's the wrong office.
- What does a Detroit food truck permit cost?
- The two verified figures, from the Detroit Health Department fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, are a $498/year Mobile Food Establishment license for a hot (cooking) truck and a one-time $743 Mobile/TFU plan review. On top of that you pay the City of Detroit Business License (through BSEED) and a Detroit Fire Department permit — those fees vary and aren't on the health schedule, so confirm them directly. Budget separately for a commissary and liability insurance (commonly $2,000–$4,000/year).
- Why is the City Business License issued last?
- Detroit stacks the process so BSEED's Business License and Vendor Plate are the capstone. BSEED won't issue them until three offices have cleared you: the Detroit Health Department (valid food license), the Fire Department (food truck permit for enclosed cooking trucks), and the Treasury Department (income-tax clearance). File in that order — applying to BSEED first just stalls.
- Where am I allowed to vend in Detroit?
- Detroit's modernized ordinance opened designated Central Business District and Cultural Center / Midtown vending zones plus commercial corridors across the city, but it also created 14 restricted corridors where trucks are banned and prohibits vending on any residential street. You can only vend where on-street parking is allowed (paying the meter if it's metered), must stay 200 feet from a business selling the same goods, 200 feet from any K-12 school, and 200 feet from a stadium/arena without written consent, and can't vend between 11 PM and 5 AM.
- Is a commissary required?
- Yes. Every mobile unit must return to a licensed commissary at least once every 24 hours for servicing, restocking, and waste disposal, and a Detroit Health Department–approved commissary verification form must be kept in the truck at all times. You cannot get the health license without documenting a commissary.